McLellan on Sharks schedule: ‘It’s quirky, but it’s not the disaster it could have been’

SAN JOSE – Like everything else connected with the NHL lately, the planned release Saturday of a lockout-shortened, 48-game schedule became an agonizing process.

Morning became night, but eventually Sharks fans learned that their team would open its season in Calgary on Jan. 20, play in Edmonton two nights later, and then return home to face the Phoenix Coyotes on Jan. 24 for the first of six consecutive games at HP Pavilion.

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As expected, players Saturday did ratify the new 10-year labor pact approved by owners earlier in the week. But lawyers still needed to hammer out the language in a memorandum of understanding tied to the agreement. Until that was done shortly before 7:30 p.m. PST, the lockout was not officially over and announcement of the league schedule remained on hold.

Fans weren’t the only ones left hanging as without the final piece of the new agreement in place, coach Todd McLellan had no idea whether training camp would start Sunday as planned, or what the rules might be.

“We have three different plans right now,” McLellan said late Saturday morning. “We start, everything’s normal and away we go. Or there are new transition rules and we’re guessing, maybe this happens. Or we may not even get the go ahead to start tomorrow and it might be a different day.”

He added: “We will use our time as efficiently as possible and get the most out of it as possible – we just don’t know what that time is.”

Aware of the schedule before it was officially released, McLellan seemed relieved the task ahead wasn’t more daunting.

“It’s quirky, but it’s not the disaster it could have been,” he said.

Here are the highlights of the schedule that keeps all NHL teams inside their own conference:

*****The Sharks will play an imbalanced schedule with five games against two of their Pacific Division rivals – Phoenix and the Anaheim Ducks – and four games against the other two, the Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings. San Jose gets the extra home game against the Coyotes and will make a third trip to Anaheim.

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*****The Sharks also will play each team in the Northwest and Central divisions three times. San Jose fans will see the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Nashville predators twice. In contrast, the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets will make only one appearance at HP Pavilion.

*****The Sharks’ longest trip is a six-game stretch in mid-February with the SAP Open tennis tournament in San Jose for a final time. But this year, with four days off between a Feb. 15 contest in Chicago and a Feb. 19 game in St. Louis, tentative plans call for a trip home to break things up.

*****Eight of the Sharks’ 24 home games will start earlier than the usual 7:30 p.m. faceoff with four 1 p.m. Saturday matinees against Colorado on Jan. 26, Phoenix on Feb. 9, St. Louis on March 9 and Dallas on April 7.

*****Originally, the Sharks were scheduled to play their 82 games over 183 days – including breaks for the holidays and all-star weekend — with nine pair of back-to-back games. Now the team will play 48 games over 97 days with the same number of pair of back-to-backs.

*****San Jose finishes the season in Los Angeles on April 27 – two weeks after the 2012-13 season was originally scheduled to end. The Stanley Cup finals now are likely to be pushed into the final week of June.

*****Individual game tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Wow. You found the one error that I thought I had fixed earlier, but not in the version I posted. Actually, it’s the same number of back to backs — nine — than there were in the full 82 gamer.

Fixed now. Thanks.

David

sched

great. this is not a bad schedule at all for the Sharks. lots of early season games at home

sched

the Chi Blackhawks have the worst schedule. They play 10 of their first 12 games on the road, and they have 12 back to backs

MLBSF1

I mean it’s good to have things settled but please. We’re starting the season in late January with a shortened unbalanced schedule against all Western Conference teams.

And some how the winner of the Stanley Cup will be considered legitimate? I think not.

Alex

Come on, let’s get it going already!

NoCupWithDW

a somewhat lucky break in the schedule, only 4 games against LA and Dallas. With the extra game against Ana in Ana, not a bad day trip.

also getting 2 at home against Van, Detroit, Avs, Minny and Preds is definitely a bonus for the fans and Sharks. The extra home game against some of the conferences toughest opponents should help the Sharks a little bit.

Given the constraints of the schedule makers and what could have been, I think we made out pretty well. home for 16 days straight near the beginning of the season has got to be a major coup for the Sharks.

Renoshark

Anyone know whether MLBSF thinks this season is legitimate or not? His first 5000 posts on the subject were vague. Thanks in advance.

Refs mom

Good one, Reno.

Made me laugh!

Refs mom

My worry is that our “stars” getting the big bucks are all so old

Paddy, Joe etc all over 30

Wish we had signed a young star

No cup with anyone

Asterix for 1999,1995 and every year Montreal or Toronto won a cup when they had exclusive rights for local players.

Scum Bum

All,

When you see a post from the troll, can you all please not respond in any way to it?

Please, Please, Please — DON’T FEED THE TROLL.

Even a shortened hockey season with him clanging here is enough to set my teeth on edge.

Alex

Scum Bum,

It’s sad that some people here still don’t get this.

GDub

CLANG CLANG CLANG

sched

NBC does not think much of the Sharks. they have 70 games scheduled on NBC and NBCsportsnetwork, and only 1 game with the Sharks playing, in St Louis on Feb 19

JB

Just one? But…but how else will I find out what Pierre McGuire thinks of Joe Thornton…and Joe Pavelski…and Sidney Crosby?

Seems like you’re the only one that thinks they’ll need a reminder that the 2013 Stanley Cup followed a shortened season. Tie a string on you finger or something.

MLBSF1

Renoshark says:
January 12th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Anyone know whether MLBSF thinks this season is legitimate or not? His first 5000 posts on the subject were vague. Thanks in advance.

——

Well Reno,

I have a compromise. How about I stop reminding everyone how silly and illegitimate this season is going to be (and it sure is, let’s be honest) ..

And you promise not to talk about how terrible trades (such as McGinn to Colorado) are going to elevate the Sharks to Stanley Cup champion status like you went on and on about last year.

I will never forget how you tried to tell me on that horrible day that the Sharks were immediately better, and the team immediately went into the tank, so to speak.

smh

GP

RenoShark,

Please stop. You know what I am eluding too.

GP

All,

On TV and hockey on TV, TV advertisers are paying for how many eyes are viewed during a game. More regular viewers on east coast. IOW, Bigger shares. Advertisers don’t really want to pay for a region with a 1 or 2 share when an east coast region is throwing an 8-12 for instance.

I don’t know what the actual #s are anywhere, but do you really think the Sharks are near a double digit # to have an argument with NBC?

ZEKE

Looking at the line pairs David provided a few posts back — its really kind of stunning how bad the 3rd and 4th lines might be.

I like Wingels and Desijardins, but Handzus is so slow. He was a liability most of the year last year and he’s not gonna be any faster as he gets older. Galiardi was also a liability, overly energetic — at the wrong time and in the wrong places. No idea why Wilson kept him. Burish is new, not sure what he brings, but he’s never been a major contributor. Sheppard is an unknown as he recovers and returns to the NHL.

I’m not saying there couldn’t be some pleasant surprises — but I don’t see much hope for chemistry on those lower lines. On those lower lines, I think we’ll miss guys who’ve rotated out in recent years like McGinn, Winnik, Wellwood, Mitchell and Nichol.

I do like our defense. Plus Demers and Braun — when they are healthy — are both able to be effective d-men, especially when paired with the right guy.

Antti Niemi is who he is, kind of have to hold your breath!! Thomas Greiss, as a backup, is good. If Niemi falters, I hope TMc is more willing to give Greiss his shot.

Andy

I remember that too MLBSF1, Keep posting your honest opinions.

Renoshark

Yet, those lower lines were still bad(i.e. non productive) or MIA far too often when Mitchell and McGinn were here. That fact is often conveniently forgotten. I do miss Welly. Should have kept him and never should have signed Handzus to begin with. Burns, Braun and Demers better get healthy fast and Nemo isn’t the answer in net IMO.

Bustherrr

Reno,
Agree with your assessment on the former 3-4 line guys, as opposed to the absence makes fond rose colored memories view.

Welly was fun, but perhaps is better off in WIN as a top 6, rather then a 3rd line guy who doesn’t PK. They did get pushed around later in the playoffs, part of which lead to the signing of 6’5 Handzus.

Since Handzus is signed, did apparently play all year with a nagging injury, and acknowledges he under performed and has to be better, I’m willing to see if he can rebound and be better.

If not, SJ has 3-5 guys in their prime years (mid 20s to early 30s) with NHL experience ready to step in. For years SJ’s 3-4 lines have been mostly a mix of inexperienced early 20′s players and final years 35+ guys. The same with the 4-8 Dmen. This roster looks different.

As to Neimi, his worst issue is he does not play well at the start of the season and the team gets off to a bad start. Even his SCup year with CHI with their great Defense, he did not play well enough early and didn’t get the starting job until mid-season due to injuries. So this year that should not be an issue, he should be in mid-season form.

Also with the new coaches they should be able to figure out if the PK problem is the Goalie or the players/system if front of him.
Cautiously Optimistic, Let the games begin.

Bustherrr

Read a rumor that SJ was interested in Vandermeer, but that he was working out in the VAN area and that there was mutual interest.
Then read that VAN had signed Cam Barker, so figured Vandemeer and SJ might be talking.
Just read that VAN signed Vandermeer to a 2-way deal, giving them 9 D-men on the current roster.

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